How to Homeschool While Working from Home

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Right now, many of us are in uncharted territory and are asking ourselves the same question, “How do I homeschool while working from home”?   Working from home with kids around is a challenge in and of itself.  Add a while curriculum to teach your kids and that can lead to a recipe for disaster.

—< Click here to read How to Work From Home with Kids >—

Luckily, it is possible. Here are some tips for how you can homeschool while working from home.

Be Realistic

The first and most important tip is to be realistic. Your child is not going to sit down at the kitchen table and do schoolwork from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.  That is just not going to happen.  It doesn’t even happen at school.  Also, you shouldn’t expect yourself to complete your best work in this environment.

Everyone has been thrown out of routines. Everyone is dealing with a myriad of questions and concerns.  Just be flexible and have realistic expectations for your children and yourself.   And always remember, this is temporary. This is just one small portion of their educational experience and your career.  You can’t mess either up too bad.

Find What Learning Setup Works Best for Your Family

Every child is different. Every career is different. Every space is different. Every technology is different. Every family is different.  You get the drift.

Everyone has a set of unique circumstances that you need to account for so this means that your learning setup may be unique.  What works for Sally down the street, probably won’t’ work for you, and that is okay.

Instead of using a defined schedule and setup, figure out what will work best for your situation.  Experiment a little with different schedules, learning locations,  and learning styles.  Maybe your children do better first thing in the morning.  Maybe it works out better if you sprinkle in learning all day long. Maybe it works best if you have outside learning. Maybe it works best if they do schoolwork in their bedrooms.

Get feedback from your family.  Ask your children when they learn the best, when they tend to have more patience, and when they find it easier to work.  Giving them the opportunity to be heard will help increase their engagement in the process.  It’s hard to argue with a decision that you helped make (although they still will try from time to time).

Establish a Homeschool Contract

Once you get your children’s feedback and opinions, draft up a homeschool contract.   In this contract write down what your mutually agreed upon schedule will be,  discuss minimum expectations, describe consequences for non-compliance, detail rewards for good behavior, etc. The more that you can spell out, the better.

These are all things that are in place at your child’s school so if you need some help with coming up with the terms, ask your child.  Ask them what happens when they break the rules or fail to complete an assignment. Ask them what rewards they get for doing a good job.

You should also spell out expectations of you.   For example, you will be available every night for 2-3 hours, you will warn them in advance when you need to change the schedule or expectations, etc.   This will show your kids that you are invested and willing to commit to the home school arrangement as well.

Once you have the terms all spelled out, have every family member sign it.    Having all of your family members sign the contract is important as it affirms their commitment to the plan. It also provides you with some support if they break the rules.

Stick to the Routine

Once you find a routine that works for everyone, try your best to stick to it.  Of course, you need to be flexible, but sticking to a plan provides consistency and structure which kids (and adults) crave.

Try to establish routines with housework, meals, school work,  your work, and even free time.  This will help everyone know what to expect each day.

Communicate Your Needs for Working from Home

At the beginning of each day, take a few minutes, and have a family meeting. At this meeting discuss your schedule and let everyone know when you are available and not available.  Let them know if you have a pressing deadline or an important conference call.  And then have each family member do the same.  Ask your children and spouse what their day looks like  Ask them if they need any support from you or others.

(Use this magnetic dry erase calendar to post everyone’s calls, deadlines, and activities)

This communication allows you to be on the same page and help everyone plan their day more effectively. Hopefully, it helps you avoid the last-minute mandatory Zoom call.

Work with the Teacher

If you or your child is struggling with the workload, don’t hesitate to reach out to the teacher. They are there to support you during this journey.  Tell them what is challenging you and your child and see if they have any suggestions to help.

This especially goes if you are having a hard time getting your child to focus or complete their work. Teachers know your child in a way that you don’t. They know what makes your child tick, what educational styles work best for them, how to get them to focus, etc.   Partner with them to ensure that you work with the student in the right manner.

Find Alone Time

I am an introvert.  I  need to be alone sometimes in order to recharge and be my best self.   It has been hard to find that time when you are homeschooling and working from home.  You are with each other ALL. THE. TIME.

Don’t feel bad if you need to work time in for yourself. Even if it a short walk in the evenings, a quiet bath, or a drive around town.   You need this space to recharge.

Also, make sure that your partner has that time and space as well.  Set up a schedule and communicate this with the family.   Doing something to take care of yourself does not make you a bad mom, rather you are setting a powerful example for your kids to make sure they are taking care of their own needs.

What advice do you have for how to Homeschool While Working from Home? What challenges are you facing?

 

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